The annual Joint AIDS Review (JAR) 2022, released by the Uganda AIDS Commission on Tuesday, has revealed that by the end of 2021, Uganda had an estimated 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Report, however, indicated that AIDS related deaths had declined by 67% from 51,000 in 2010 to 17,000 and new HIV infections had declined by 39% from 88,000 in 2010 to 54,000 in 2022.
There is however, is a slight reduction in HIV related deaths in a period of two years, from 21,000 deaths in 2020 to 17,000 in 2022.
The reason for huge number of deaths is because the people who are not on care (ARVs) report to health centers late, and already have opportunistic infections such as TB in the advanced stages.
The annual Joint AIDS Review (JAR) 2022, documents the progress made during the second year of implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP) 2020/21–2024/25.
The Report was released at the National HIV/AIDS Symposium in Kampala on Tuesday.
“There were an estimated 1.4 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) in FY 2021/22, 54,000 new infections, and 17,000 AIDS-related deaths. Overall the trends in new infections and AIDS-related deaths are on a decline, but more efforts are needed to reach epidemic control,” said Dr Vincent Bagambe, the Director for Planning and Strategic Information at Uganda AIDS Commission who presented the report.
The Report also revealed that for FY 2021/22, HIV prevalence among adults is 5.2%, a decrease from 6.2% in the Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Survey (UPHIA) 2016/17. Incidence among adults is at 0.24%.
Close to two-thirds (65%) of new HIV infections among adults in 2021 were among women compared to their male counterparts (35%).
Further, young people (10-24 years) are more vulnerable to HIV infection with 43% of the cases occurring in this age group.
Among young people, adolescent girls and young women are even more vulnerable to HIV infection; four in five (79%) of new HIV infections in young people occur in adolescent girls and young women aged 10-24 years.
Regional variations in HIV prevalence show improvements in all regions except for the Mid North and South Central.
Against the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets for epidemic control by 2025, Uganda achieved 89-92-95.
The UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals aim to ensure that by the year 2025, 95% of the entire population of all UN member countries know their HIV status, 95% of those who have the virus are enrolled on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment have their viral load suppressed.
Results from UPHIA 2020 also show a decline in the first target (81-96-92), indicating that Uganda has to intensify efforts to achieve the targets.
The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja said high HIV prevalence is “unacceptable.”
“The burden of HIV remains high with HIV prevalence being higher among women at 7.2 than men at 4.2. The adolescent girls are at high risk with new HIV infections being almost all-time higher among females than their make age mates. This is unacceptable,” she said.
Nabbanja reiterated Government commitment to the fight against HIV.
On HIV mainstreaming as a government policy, Nabbanja directed that all State and non actors should ensure HIV is mainstreamed in all interventions.
“I am happy that the Ministry of Finance has done the same by instructing all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including Local Governments to allocate at least some money out of their budgets to support HIV/AIDS activities.”
On HIV/AIDS messages across the country noted that there is complacency and the declining HIV/AIDS messages particularly in schools and local communities.
“I am therefore calling on all government agencies and non State actors to relay HIV AIDS messages in all forms.”
This, Nabbanja said will strengthen and support HIV/AIDS communication throughout the country.
HIV/AIDS CARE AND TREATMENT
The Report indicated that as of June 2022, 1.3 million clients were active in care with 99% of them getting services under a differentiated services delivery model.
The roll out of multi-month dispensing (3-6 monthly) ARV drug refills continued across the country under the Less Intensive Models.
According to the Epi-data estimates, the lowest performance is for the first 95 target (people know their HIV status) and more so for children (68%) and men (88%).
Congregants attending the National HIV/AIDS Symposium in Kampala on Tuesday
“These low achievements highlight the challenges in mobilizing the population especially priority populations and mother-baby pairs. Overall, the HIV Testing Services need to be intensified using the different approaches to improve the first ‘95’ target,” the Report highlighted.
As of June 2022, 1.3m clients were active in care, of whom 99% categorized under a Differentiated service delivery (DSD) approach.
During the reporting period, 74% of the adult clients and children below 10 years were retained after 12 months of initiating treatment compared to 63% for adolescents 10-19 years. 96% of adults, 89% children 0-14 years and were virally suppressed.